New trial reqest denied for Burlington man convicted of rape, robbery

Wednesday

The state Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, this week, a decision to deny a new trial for a Burlington man convicted of rape and other offenses that occurred nearly a decade ago.

Renaldo Prado was found guilty by a jury of one count of aggravated rape, three counts of armed robbery and three counts of witness intimidation, as a result of two robberies and sexual attacks that occurred in Burlington and Tewksbury in Jan. 2009.

In both robberies, Prado responded to advertisements on CraigsList for adult services, and arranged to meet victims at a hotel. Once there, he robbed them at gunpoint and threatened to find or kill them if they contact police. Prado was convicted of aggravated rape for forcing a victim at gunpoint to digitally penetrate her own vagina.

Prado sought a new trial in 2016 on the grounds that self-penetration did not meet the definition of rape as defined by the state. His request was denied, and he appealed that decision.

The court, this week, affirmed the order denying the motion for a new trial.